Alone

11 September

I just got ome from dropping Samantha off for her first day of pre-school. There we no tears, though I did get a little misty as I was walking away. She is my baby you know. And I have invested nearly three years, tomorrow it will be 3, of blood, sweat, and tears. More of the later than the first two. She gave me a big hug and kiss, and then another hug and I left. Last night she was trying to get me to say could stay for four hours rather than 3, but hopefully she will come quietly when I go to pick her up. I think I mentioned she will go three days a week, right? Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. So she'll have a day off before going back. And she wont be going on her birthday. Yesterday at our Jo-Jingles class the teacher had a balloon and card for her, and they sang Happy Birthday to her. Sam was quite embarrassed and didn't seem to know what to do.

I know you are wondering about the t-shirt for school. Well, I was right. She did get one there, along with a sweatshirt, that she can wear on Thursday. I can get more and think I am going to get atleast one more of each, That way I don't have to worry about needing to wash her stuff Thursday for Friday. I hate having to wash Emily's uniform everyday because she gets something on it. it's just nasty from running around. She had another one, but got red ink all over it that wont come out. And at 30 some pounds a pop ($60) and less than 5 weeks to wear it, I think I am going to just wait until the Spring and get her new one(s) depending on if this size still fits. After half term she goes to her winter uniform and I would rather get the winter one for now. Ford will buy her three dresses a year and I am trying to make the most of it. There are some other parts of the winter uniform that we'll get too when it gets closer. I want to wait until the frenzy at the uniform store lessons. Though I can't really wait too long or there might now be any to be had. But last week when we went to get her backpack, the store was so crowded and I didn't want to start the trying on etc. Poeple were getting mean. Samantha's gear does not cost nearly as much as Emily's. That wont happen until Samantha starts attending Woodlands. In addition to the shirt, Sam needs blue pants. Not easy think go find for girls. So she has two pair from the boy's department. Actually she has to try one on still. She did wear a yellow shirt today, the one I mentioned. I really hope she doesn't get it too dirty.

I only have a little more time to write, I need to put the ponytails back in Emily's Bitty Twin so that she will look like her twin who Samantha will get today when I pick her up. A first day of school present. Emily got her twin last year when she started Kindergarden. yea, this is two years earlier than Emily was, but I might have gotten it for her earlier it's just that they just came out with the twin girls last year, Before you could only get a set of boy and girl. Now you can get a whole bunch of combinations. Emily has a blond girl, and Samantha will have a brunette girl. With her hair in ponytails, Sam and the doll look a lot a like. =) Her birthday is tomorrow, and she'll get more stuff. But I wanted to give it to her on her first day. Plus, mom mom bought clothes for the doll for her birthday. Then, after dressing the doll. I have to work on the invitations for Emily's birthday party. We want them to go out this week, Emily wants to hand them out tomorrow. I just want it out of the way. Then I can start figureing how much of stuff I need, and how much this thing is going to cost. They don't do birthday parties cheep around here. Emily's will be quite low key compaired to others, but we'll do our best. Emily goes to her nice ( a kid called it posh the other day) because Ford pays for it, not because we can afford it. So, yes I have a little alone time. But I have to use it for mommy things as well as having a quite cup of coffee.

All in all, things are going better than they had been. Recently when I have talked to some people who I have not seen in a while, but have asked if I am all settled. I do the " yeah, I think so" And most of them go on to say something to the effect of " are you used to things, you had a bit of trouble at first didn't you?" I am honest, I admitt it has taken me a while. But maybe it is a matter of acceptance. And trying to make the most of where I am. I still find things frustrating because they are done so differently, or because I am not familiar with much of what people take for granted knowing. Usually I get all tense and mad, and do the " If I was back home (Alex hates when I call Michigan home, he says this is our home now....Even Emily who has embrassed living her and is well on her way of becoming a little Brit says that we are just visiting) I wouldn't have this problem." I am trying to take it more in stride and not panic. A new concept for me even before we moved here. =) I'll tell you about one of my more recent adventures that made me want to just bang my head against the wall.

I am trying to be the good Catholic mother I am suppose to be, and educate my children about our faith etc. So naturaly I went looking for a class to send her to so someone who knows what they are going can teach her. Plus she ask too many questions and I get frustrated when I try to teach her anything. Let alone when she asks me questions that have been asked and contiplated forever. And to my defense, that is how we do it back home. When kids start school, if they don't go to a Catholic school, start attending what has been called CCD, catachisam, faith formation etc. You can't recieve the sacriments, ( For my non-Catholic readers- Heidi and Clint- kids make thier first reconcilation ( confession) and Holy Communion in about second grade. Then they get confirmed at about 8th or 9th) unless they have been attending for a few years before. YOu can't just show up for the good stuff. Emily didn't have to go to be on track, but she even attended last year before we left. OK so back to my story. So I call the church we have been attending. The nice secretary I spoke to didn't know what I was talking about. And why would my child need to take extra classes, she should be going to the Catholic school. I really threw her for a loop. She was quite flustered and said that I should come in and talk to the paster. So we went and had a little chat ( we= me and the girls) with the good padre. He knew what I was talkign about, had heard that they do that in America, but they did not have anything like that here. The best we could come up with was that I was going to get material and do it with her at home. This is going to be fun....NOT I was not born to be a teacher. I have no clue how I am going to do this. I don't know if I can. I don't know if it will count when we go home.

He has not gotten back to me as to whether he found any good material. My mother spoke to the religious education directer at her church and got some books to send me though, so if Fr. John can't find anything I'll at least have what Mom found. Now, my mother is not much inclined to mail things. She doesn't like paying postage, let along postage to England. Books are heavy and I can't imagine it will be cheap to mail them. But she will do it if it means her grand children will be getting the needed material and educated Catholic. She was a little concerned that us living in a country with a state religion, the Church of England, would interfer with us going to church etc and being Catholic. When I told her that Emily has a relgion class at school, it is part of the national curriculum and non-denominational, she responded " That's not the same thing, it's just learning bible stories".

Anyway, the point I started to make is....they don't have religious education classes like they do back home and now I have to find another way to make sure that Emily is on the path to make the sacrements. If we go back and she has not been in CCD for three years, they might make her wait two years to start the sacrments. Can going through the stuff with me be considered her having religious education?? We had problems finding churches that would marry us, and then baptize Samantha because of thier waiting periods for things. Will they "wave" two years??? I have not found the Catholic churches to be accomodating or make too many exeptions. Luckily, they are more willing to make acceptions here. Ordinarily the kids don't start the screments until Year three. but back home they do it in Second grade. By the time we go back, they will have already done first Reconciliation and Communion. So Fr. John said that he would let Emily into the class next year. THey do have a preperation class, but it is not a weekly thing or anything. So he'll let her do it a year early basicly. When we go back she'll basicly be on track I guess. You can't undo a sacrement, so they can't say it doesn't count. Hopefully it will all be OK. I'll do my little religion class at home I guess. Samantha can join in too. But see. Something that would have been so easy and uncomplicated has turned into an ordeal with needing to find material and get exceptions made etc. And instead of senting her off .... I have to do it all and not just the " parental support and reinforcment".


Well, I have been at this way too long and only now have 30 minutes or more like 20 to go get Sam. I get going and can't stop myself. But this was a nice way of spending my free time. Maybe I can do more on Thursday when she goes back. I can't friday because I have to help at Emily's school with swim class. Now that will be a story I am sure.

Take care all